The Kremlin did not rule out, on Tuesday June 4, that Russian forces could strike French instructors, whose sending is currently under discussion, and kyiv.
“No instructor involved in training Ukrainian soldiers has immunity” from the strikes, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov told the press. “It doesn’t matter whether they are French or not,” he added.
Last week, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Syrsky, affirmed that France would “soon” send instructors to train the troops of this country which has been facing a Russian offensive since February 2022. The ministry Ukrainian Defense Department, however, clarified shortly after that the sending of instructors was “still under discussion” with France and other countries.
Officially, France does not have any military personnel assisting or training Ukrainian forces in Ukraine.
The project is still far from finalized
French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly raised the possibility of sending Western troops to help kyiv, sparking controversy among his allies as well as Russia’s anger.
The project for a European coalition of military instructors to train Ukrainian troops in Ukraine, desired by France, is being discussed among Europeans but appears far from being finalized. Many countries are wondering about its consequences vis-à-vis Moscow.